Shield N.Guide

Abstract

A wearable device for human guides (hereafter referred to as "the guide") and persons in need of person to person contact assistance (herein referred to as "the guide"). Preferably for use within, but not limited to, medical, educational and retail institutions for the disabled and seniors in need of travel assistance from point a to point b. The present invention relates to an apparatus which is worn over the shoulder or across the backside by a person who is a guide and has a handle for grasping by another person who needs to be guided and is connected to a shield betwixt the two devices to serve as a barrier between the two said person there by protecting both parties from cross contamination and body fluids. A device used to deter direct human to human contact and to promote safety and social distancing while traveling in close proximity of one another.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Persons in need of walking assistance from a human guide, such as but not limited to the disabled and senior people, can be guided comfortably and safely by outfitting the guiding person with a shied attached to a handle for throwing shield over the shoulder or back on the front end by the guide and an inverted or outward handle to be grasped by the guide on the opposite side of the shield and is molded or mounted onto a shield of varying shapes, sizes, textures and colors, opaque or transparent for protection from cross-contamination by both persons.

[0002] One drawback to current guide processes, in particular, the healthcare industry for seniors and the disabled is that there is no room to allow for personal space or protection from bodily fluids and contaminants when guides assist guides. Also, although human guides are used to being touched (sometime inappropriately the "classic" method), which allows for direct person to person contact, it is no longer a safe method. A need exists for a space shield that can be readily thrown over the working guides shoulder while simultaneously allowing a person in need of travel assistance to grab a handle that is connected to the outer opposite end of the shield. The shield is for travel safety, personal space for both guide and guide, and sanitation while transporting another person to points of destinations.

SUMMARY

[0003] A shield having inverted and/or outward collapsible handles and/or straps affixed to the shield which are but not limited to being detachable or folding on both sides of the shield, such that, when the shield is to be placed over the shoulder by person A (the guider) as a no-contact barrier and grasping device for purposes of guiding person B (the needing travel assistance) to the destination point while avoiding bodily contact and allowing for social distancing in the process. This unit is not limited to but is preferably used while assisting the elderly or disabled while being guided to the destination point.

[0004] In a first aspect of the invention, a combination of a plastic shield which attaches to two handles extended from both sides of the shield comprises a shield having but not limited to the plurality of molded inverted or outward handles or straps of various materials, sizes, shapes, colors and adhesions: a first handle affixed to the shields front panel for the purpose of throwing or mounting over guides shoulder; and a second set of handles or straps, affixed to the shield back panel; such that, when the harness is placed around the body part, preferably but not limited to the shoulder or across the backside of the guiding person. The handles can be molded to each other through the shield. A combination harness strap and attachable shield comprises but are not limited to material of clear simple plastic, fiberglass, or plexi-glass rigid and/or flexible for the guiding person's head and/or body; and or more fasteners affixed thereto, with at least one fastener being affixed to the harness and at least one counterpart fastener being affixed to the shield. The shield is attached to or molded into the harness by engaging corresponding mating fasteners with one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0005] Various features and advantages of the invention will be understood more completely when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings (which are not necessarily drawn to scale; wherein:

[0006] FIG. 1A depicts a front perspective view of a shield according to a first embodiment with an attached handle. FIG. 1B depicts a front perspective view of the shield of FIG. 1A with the handle detached.

[0007] FIG. 2A depicts a back perspective view of a shield according to a second embodiment with an attached handle. FIG. 2B depicts a back perspective view of the shield of FIG. 2A with the handle detached. FIG. 2C depicts a back perspective view of the shield of FIG. 2A with the handle detached from an inverted handle position.

[0008] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict a shield according to a third embodiment, wherein one strap slides through the shield. That is, the strap slides through the shield so that the same strap acts as a handle for both sides of the shield. FIG. 3A depicts the front perspective view of the shield. FIG. 3B depicts the back perspective view of a shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] In one embodiment, the invention is a shield worn over the shoulder of a person thereby having a strap of various material used as a holding mechanism to be held by the person being guided and an attachable shield is depicted. The combination includes a shield, having a shoulder strap or handle. The entire unit preferably but not limited to being rigid; and an attachable grasping handle. The shield has a number of intrinsic properties and purposes, such as protective barriers, decoration, various sizes and shapes etc., and is constructed of a material or materials amenable to such purpose(s). Unlimited examples include natural and synthetic fabrics, plastic handles, or soft, plastic, mesh, composites, shapes, sizes and the like.

[0010] Upon reading this disclosure, other embodiments and modifications will be apparent to the skilled person. For example, the handles and straps can be affixed to the shield, in a manner other than as described. These optional fasteners enable the shield and handles to be worn over shoulder or across the backside and thereby secure the shield to the arm or backside of the guiding person. All such embodiments and modification fall within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

REFERENCES CITED

TABLE-US-00001

[0011] U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS: 1,612,945 January 1927 Rieck 3,248,852 May 1966 Schwartz 4,577,591 March 1986 Wesseldine 5,467,743 November 1995 Doose 5,632,235 May 1997 Larsen 5,970,921 October 1999 Fulton 6,481,383 November 2002 Ross 7,370,608 May 2008 Friedman 84U873U April 2013 Hurwitz 8,424,495 April 2013 Rivera-Brutto 8,807,090 August 2014 Potts 9,332,734 May 2016 Hege 9,339,015 May 2016 Pinto 2005/0072376 April 2005 Kerrigan 2006/0090711 May 2006 Richards 2006/0278177 December 2006 Crawford 2007/0272170 November 2007 Milson et al. 2010/0043725 February 2010 Hall 2010/0269765 October 2010 Barghaln 2010/0313825 December 2010 Friedland 2011/0174237 July 2011 Sanders-Luckman 2011/0277703 November 2011 Yeaw 2011/0297107 December 2011 Kostelec 2013/0014705 January 2013 Cho 2013/0276719 October 2013 Ferrando 2014/0190424 July 2014 Howell 2014/10355256 December 2014 Curtis 2015/0245897 September 2015 Hasebi 2017/0156295 June 2017 Zoltanski FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS WO/2017184653 October 2017 CALDERA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Claims

1. A shield worn over the shoulder of a guide having attached rigid or flexible straps and/or handles for the purpose of being grasped by the guide, wherein the shield has a handle extending laterally into or outward from the back and front panels of the protective barrier, wherein the handle is molded or affixed to the shield, and wherein the handle is collapsible or adjustable.

2. The shield of claim 1, wherein the handle is detachable.

3. The shield of claim 1, wherein the handle is an inverted handle, wherein the handle is molded or attached to the opposite side of the shield, and wherein the handle can be grasped by a guide.